Haven't hung out here in the Commuting forum for awhile...

I gots me a little ebay money to spend and I would really like a back-lit computer for my bike (I commute early mornings in the dark). I don't need anything too fancy, no GPS or anything, but it would be handy if it was USB rechargable. I thought Cateye came out with a commuter-specific one some years back, but I'm unable to find it.

I've been using the same model wireless Cateye for almost 8 years now. Its a workhorse, but I'd like to upgrade.

Suggestions?

Backlight will chew up batteries.

I got an extended battery and bar mount for my android phone and have been using it.

I use a utility called "No Screen Off" to keep the screen on.

I just went for my first ride at night since installing my Cateye wired computer and not always being able to see the screen due to lack of light was a tad annoying, so what I am thinking of doing is buying something like a Knog Blinder 4 Safety Light or Lezyne Zecto Drive Y9 Front Light and have it hanging upside down on my Topeak Handlebar Extender(which I have my front light on), so that it will light up my bike computer at night.

When riding at night I have a low power flashlight I bungee to my helmet. It lights up where ever I look, without being so bright as to blind me. I suppose one of those small LED visor clip lights would do the same (provided your helmet has a visor) but I'd worry about battery life.

While I don't go "low power" I agree with Bobby. A helmet light allows for reading a cycle computer as well as a lot of other useful things.

If you search amazon for "backlight bike computer" you get a lot of results, fyi.

Due to early and late riding, including winter, the backlight has been important for me too. While I had some trial detours, I invariably went back to Sigma computers, currently wired 16.12. There is a wireless version of that computer too. The pros of the Sigma computers include: backlight, reasonably accurate clock, good contrast, display working fine at low temperatures, memory when changing battery. The cons include: cumbersome operation in terms of buttons, flimsy mount, marginal temperature function.

Just pedal instead?

You probably won't find one USB rechargeable, because it just doesn't make sense. Generally the backlit ones I've seen only have the backlight on when you press a button. In those situations, a common coin cell will still last a year. Lots of cheap Chinese comps have backlights, and a Sigma that I used to have did as well.

That's something I'm looking for too, a computer that the backlight will stay lit. I'm constantly watching my speed trying to push myself faster so being able to see it at night would be nice.

i think a helmet mounted light might be your best bet. My Garmin can stay backlit if I wanted it too. I have set to 15 seconds but when the dark ages move in I might bump it up to 30seconds or so.

That does not work. Rather than glance over, you need to tilt your head by a large angle. Then the handlebar area brightens up immensely. Your eyesight needs to adjust. Then it needs to adjust again after you start looking ahead. In the meantime you might have already hit somebody or something.

Oh I did not think about eyes adjusting

I know this is a super old post but I was having the same issue as the OP'S not being able to see my computer at night/early morning.

I've been using a Lezyne super GPS which although is definitely much more than what the OP was looking for, allow me to turn the back light on and leave it on as long as I like without requiring period button presses to keep the back light on.

Also I had a sigma wireless bc 16.12 with cadence that also has a backlight but it's backlight will turn off after a few seconds. Great computer but I wanted an upgrade.

I use this cheap computer in the last 8 months.
It have all the basic functions and you can set it to constant backlight.


Look at this on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/182059151040